Oil Pickup Issues

[CougarGT]

I had a few extra minutes tonight after heading home today to visit my parents, so I had hopes of swapping over the 2.5L pickup and oil pan.

It looks like my freak 3.0L has struck once again. 2000 3.0L Oil pan's are different than the 2.5L. (I was hoping I got lucky like DanG did)

The 2.5L pickup bracket misses the windage tray stud completly, as seen here:
http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/attachments/couggt%5F25%5Fpickup%2Ejpg
The 2.5L pickup also hits another windage tray stud, not allowing it to seat properly in the oil pump.

This got me to thinking the 3.0L pickup may work as they look very similar, and have the same sump location in the pans:
http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/attachments/couggt%5Fpickups%2Ejpg

This would solve the issue of securing the pickup properly, but under further inspection, it appears the 3.0L pickup will be about .5" deeper in the sump than the 2.5L unit.
Here is a pic showing the overall height difference:
http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/attachments/couggt%5F25%5F30%5Fheight%2Ejpg

And finially a pic of the 3.0L pickup fitting properly:
http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/attachments/couggt%5F30%5Fpickup%2Ejpg

My options:
Modify 2.5L pickup. Cut off a portion of the stud the pickup tube is hitting, and bend/cut the bracket to allow the pickup to be secured properly.

Modify 3.0L pickup. Bend the pickup tube so it does not sit as low in the sump, allowing proper clearance with the oil pan.

What would you do/ or have done?
Does anyone know the proper distance needed between the bottom of the pickup and the oil pan?

Before final assembly I will use some modelers clay to help determine the distance between the pan and pickup.

[DanG]

I believe PuckPuck went with the bend/twist the bar option.

You may want to buy a 2001+ pickup- It's a direct bolt-on!

Otherwise, just playing with it may be the only option. Good call on the spacing issue- You definitely want enough room for the sump to actually suck in the oil.

[CougarGT]

Originally posted by: DanG
I believe PuckPuck went with the bend/twist the bar option.

You may want to buy a 2001+ pickup- It's a direct bolt-on!

Otherwise, just playing with it may be the only option. Good call on the spacing issue- You definitely want enough room for the sump to actually suck in the oil.

DanG -

Do you have a pic of your pickup installed?

[Jagular]

You also should check the clearance issues of using the 3.0L in the 2.5 pan if you have not already done so. You may find that it is in a better position than the 2.5 pickup. Stick a wad of modleing clay or play doh on some wax paper and affix it to the pickup using a rubber band or tape. stick the pan up where it would be and press the clay out. Pull the pan off and see what the clay looks like. You should have some where in the area of 1/4 of an inch.

[PuckPuck]

i modified mine... can't remember which one... but i did modify the pickup... you can not buy one because you must use the 2.5L oil pan and pickup tube however nothing lines up... people told me to buy a new one and well honestly... IT DIDN'T LINE UP... and i'm sure you see the same problem... the girdle is completely different on my block from the other blocks.... and i bet your block is the same

[DanG]

CougarCT-

Check my "Days 1 & 2" post a little ways down- I show them both side by side.

[PuckPuck]

dan - i don't think people are quite understanding this...

the girdle bolts themselves are in completely different locations. and to top it off, there are no studs or threaded holes for studs for the old locations in them... it's like ford had a batch of different girdles and threw them on a few select blocks (or something freaky like that)... I know of 2 other people doing 3.0 swaps whom encountered the same thing... only thing i can tell is "some" not all blocks built in 2000 and 2001 have this different girdle.

the 3.0L pickup tube does not fit in the 2.5L oil pan, but the 2.5L pickup tube doesn't line up to the new bolts... so you need to end up modifying the one bracket to make it fit

[CougarGT]

Originally posted by: DanG
CougarCT-

Check my "Days 1 & 2" post a little ways down- I show them both side by side.

Thanks Dan.......Way overlooked that.

Puck -

What windage tray are you running?

[PuckPuck]

Originally posted by: CougarGT

Originally posted by: DanG
CougarCT-

Check my "Days 1 & 2" post a little ways down- I show them both side by side.

Thanks Dan.......Way overlooked that.

Puck -

What windage tray are you running?

3.0L windage tray and girdle... with modified 2.5L oil pickup tube

[DanG]

Stupid Ford. :disgust:

Good luck CT....

[PuckPuck]

Originally posted by: DanG
Stupid Ford. :disgust:

I second that notion :)